Low-loss terahertz waveguides exploiting surface-plasmon modes

摘要

Finite element analysis, based on the vector H-field formulation and incorporating the perturbation technique, is used to calculate the complex propagation characteristics of silver/polystyrene (PS) coated hollow glass waveguides for terahertz (THz) frequency radiation. The mode profiles, which after emerging from the waveguide travel through either a horizontal or vertical polarizer are also presented and camera images of these profiles are compared to numerically simulated results. The effect of the polystyrene coating thickness on the attenuation characteristics of these waveguides has also been investigated and is shown to be critical to their design optimization.